ERC ready to deal with winter challenges

12 December, 2012

KABUL: Members of the Emergency Response Committee (ERC) on Wednesday informed senators that necessary measures had been taken to assist vulnerable individuals during the winter.

Representatives of the ministries agriculture, public works and rural rehabilitation and development and the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) were summoned by the upper house to present their report on preparations for dealing with the challenges faced in the winter.

While presenting the report, ANDMA head Muhammad Daim Kakar said the committee had provided relief items and allocated 90 million afs ($ 1.7 million) over the past nine months to help people in emergency situations.

He said they had 2,895 metric tonnes of flour, 1,000 tonnes of rice, 27,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 10,000 blankets and 10,000 tonnes of other food items in stocks in different provinces. The Ministry of Defence has promised to provide two helicopters to deliver food to the deserving people.

Public Health Minister Suraya Dalil said they had delivered medicine to all provinces in addition to taking steps measures to treat pneumonia among 1.3 million children. Measles vaccine had been administrated to children between nine months and 10 years in 16 provinces, Dalil said, adding the campaign was ongoing in other provinces.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Mohammad Asif Rahimi told lawmakers that his ministry had also taken measures to deal with the winter-related challenges. Thousands of tonnes of wheat, 26 tonnes of rice and other food items were available in the ministry stores in Kabul and provinces.

Similarly, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Wais Ahmad Barmak said they had identified vulnerable areas in various provinces and 166 rural roads that were often blocked by snow. The ministry has signed contracts with some companies to clear the roads of snow.

End.

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